You’re probably familiar with both stories. When you first heard about them, what was your initial reaction?

That Mark Madoff was guilty of something? That he was innocent of any wrongdoing? That he killed himself out of despair?

That Choice disrespected his team? That he was only doing it as a kind gesture for his 2-year-old nephew? That he was right to apologize? That there was no need for an apology?

A good exercise would be to search for stories from many news and sports outlets that reported these stories. Read them and study them. Look for key phrases that might reveal a judgment of any kind or a bias by the writer. As well, look for writing that depicts a neutral reporting of the news. Watch for balance. Assess the sourcing. Consider quotes from key people.

Judgment. There are many ways to use it.

Use your own judgment to evaluate the judgment of others. And remember that others will be doing the same of you and your work.